Chair



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

E. J. SMITH.

CHAIR. No. 348,244. Patented Aug. 31, 1886.

WITJVL b SES Y J 06' .dttorney (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

E. J. SMITH.

CHAIR.

No. 348,244. Patented Aug.- 31, 1886.

WI TJV E 881315 Attorney N. PETERS Phowumn n hur. waninmnn. n. c

(No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 3.

B. J. SMITH.

.GHAIR. No. 348,244. Patented Aug. 31, 1886.

Nrrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELDRIDGE J. SMITH, OF \VASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

CHAIR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 348,244, dated August 31, 1886.

Application filed March 27, 1886. Serial No.196,785.

T0 0. whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, ELDRIDGE J. SMITH, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in the city of l/Vashington, and District of Columbia, have invented a new and useful Chair, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has relation to improvements in chairs of that class wherein the back and seat consist of a frame held to the side posts and supports of the chair; and the object is, first, to construct a back and seat frame which, when covered by a textile back and seat covering, will form an easy, convenient, and comfortable rest for the body; second, to apply this improved back and seat to the chairframe by improved fastenings; and, third, to construct a chair having the back and seat frame adjustable.

"My invention therefore consists in the novel construction of special parts and their combination and arrangement, as will hereinafter be fully described, and as will be specifically and certainly pointed out in the claims hereto, as required by statute.

I have fully illustrated my improvements in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved adjustable rocker, with my improved back and seat frame attached thereto, the back and seat material being removed. Fig. 2 is a central vertical sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a view of the upper fastening-piece. Fig. 4 is a perspective of the back and seat frame, the fastenings being shown in detail, and removed therefrom. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of my improved rocking-chai r complete. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the seat and back frame, with head and leg rests affixed, and jointed side pieces; and Fig. 7 is a perspective of a chair with my improved back and seat affixed thereto.

In the drawings similar parts are identified by the same letters and numerals of reference.

The letter A designates the bottom frame of the chair, comprising the rockers 1, front supports or legs, 2, provided with rounds 3, and curved supports et, forming the rear legs or supports, and which have the top ends of the front supports tenoned in them, substantially as shown. These curved supports also serve as a seat on which the seat portion (N0 model.)

of the back and seat frame rests, as best seen in Figs. 1 and 2. For purposes of adjusting the side pieces of the upper frame of the chair at the proper place, in the curved rear supports are formed holes 5, through which the holding-pin of the frame is passed, as will be hereinafter specified. The curved rear supports are also connected by cross-rounds to give them additional strength.

The letter B designates the upper side pieces of the chair-frame. These may be provided with arms of any suitable form and pattern, substantially as shown in the drawings. The side pieces, B, may be of any proper shape, and have their lower ends pivotally bolted to the ends of the curved rear supports of the bottom frame, as at 6. Near the lower ends of the side pieces are preferably formed depending forms 7, through which a pin or bolt, 8, is projected and passed through one of the holes 5 in, the support of the bottomframe, thereby affording means for adjusting the position of the back of the chair, and, because of having a limited movement therewith,a corresponding adjustment of the back and seat frame.

The letter O designates my improved back and seat frame, consisting of the metallic side bars, 9, and end pieces, 10 and 11. The side bars, 9, of this frame may be of any bend or contour desirable between the upper and lower ends, convenience and comfort of fit to the person being the object of the form to be given to them. They are preferably given an outward curve at that part where the shoulders of the occupant will rest, as at 12, and a long inward curve, as at 13, and then having the seat portions bent, as at 14. The upper ends of the side bars are bent over and down, forming hooked ends, as 15,.and the ends of the hooks secured in cross-rounds 11, which are thus given a depending position below the tops of the hooks, and the lower ends of the side bars are bent over and under, and the ends of the hooks fixed to or in cross-rounds 10, as shown. The result attained by the bent-end conformation given to the back and seat frame is important, since when the seat and back material is secured to the frame a graceful, convenient, and comfortable curvature is given to the material at these parts, which sets naturally and comfortably to the adjacent parts of the body of the occupant. This desirable shape of the back and seat material is clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 7 of the drawings, wherein is illustrated chairs having the back and seat material 16 appropriately secured in place. The back and seat material consists of a single piece of textile fabric having straight edges and ends, the edges being sewed or looped on the side bars and the ends fastened to the cross-pieces of the frame.

The upper part of the seat and back frame is secured to the side pieces of the chair by means of brackets 17, which consist of a plate having screw-holes, and a hook, 18, to grasp the rods of the frame. The lower part is secured in position by means of bolts 19, having hooks under which the bars of the frame pass.

The bolts 19 pass through the curved supports of the bottom frame, and are held by screw-nuts on their projecting ends below. Under ordinary circumstances the back and seat frame is strong enough to meet all strains to which it is subjected; but by restingthe seat part on the top of the curved supports, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, additional security is obtained.

By pivotally connecting the bottom frame and the side pieces together, and providing the curved supports with a series of holes, as stated, and setting the side pieces thereto by a pin or bolt, and securing the back and seat frame in position, as described, the seat and back may be adjusted to any convenient angle. In cases wherein it is desirable to increase the angle of adjustahility, the side bars of the seat and back frame may be made in sections and joined together, as seen at 20 in Fig. 6 of the drawings, and should it be desirable to re-enforce the ends of the frame, then strips of thin sheet metal or strong fabric may be used and appliedfor that purpose, substantially as seen at 21 and 22 in Fig. 6 of the drawings.

In Fig. 7 of the drawings I have shown my improved back and seat applied to a chair wherein the end pieces of the frame constitute the upper cross-piece of the seat-posts and back-posts of the chair. This simple construction gives an easy sitting and Very strong chair.

My improved back and seat frame may be adapted to a chair-frame of any special construction.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The back and seat frame 0, herein described, consisting of two rigid metallic side bars having their upper ends bent over and depending and projected into across-round and their lower ends bent down and under and secured to a cross-round, substantially as described, and for the purpose stated.

2. The back and seat frame herein described, consisting of metallic side bars having their upper ends bent over and depending and projected into a cross-round and their lower ends bent down and under and secured to a cross round, and a flexible seat and back having its sides secured to the side bars of the said frame and its ends secured, respectively, to

the upper and lower cross-rounds thereof,

whereby head and leg rests are formed, substantially as describe 3. In combination with the bottom frame and the side posts of a chair, the back and seat frame having two substantially rigid side bars formed with bent overand down ends fixed in cross-rounds, and a flexible covering secured to the side bars and end pieces of said back and seat frame,substan tiall y as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in thepresenee of two attesting witnesses.

ELDRIDGE J. SMITH.

AtteSt:

ANsoN S. TAYLOR, D. I. HARTIGAN. 

